DRIVERS COERCED.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1901, 8 November 1913, Page 7

DRIVERS COERCED.

| EMPLOYER TAKES THE REINS. The length to which the strikeleaders aro going has reached the drivers. , This came to light in a rather interesting fashion wlion two carters in the employ of Messrs Blake and Carlisle went to lift a consignment of flour from '' the Lambton Railway Station. _ When the 1 drivers arrived at the station they were met by the secretary of the Drivers' Union (Mr. Parlane) who ordered them not to touch tho flour, as it had been landed at Wanganui from tho South. The men went back and told Mr. Blake that they could not got tho flour owing to tho instruction of tho Union's secretary. Mr. Blake then mounted one of his wagons determined to get the flour, himself. On tho way down ho inforrried some of the "specials" of the trouble, and continuod on to tho station. There some of tho strike piokets endeavoured to bail him up, but lie took no notice of them, and got his load of flour. On driving away tho pickets again tried to stop him, but desisted when a posse of "specials" wheeled into view, and lie was able to get his load away. Subsequently Mr. Blake called on Mr. Parlane, who informed him in response to his protest that he "was in tho hands of the Strike Committee." Ho then asked where thoy woro, and on being told that they were next door, Mr. Blake interviewed tho committeo and oxpiained his position. After a "talk" ho was asked to retire whilst they deliberated, and after a few minutes he was recalled, and told that as the flour was "scab" cargo, it could not be handled. Mr. Blake replied that he wns glad to know just how ho stood and retired. Mr. Blake stated that it was his intention to continue to cart away the flour himself.

A Press Association message from Dunedin states that a mooting of tho Green Island Miners' Union vnslield tonight to consider a telegram received from the Federation '> of Labour. A reporter was subsequently informed that as the decisions were in the naturo of campaign plans, nothing concerning them would he given to tho press. It was gathered, however, that tho decisions wore of a tcntativo naturo, and do not involve any immediate action.

A talented party of Wellington vocalists and humorists havo offered to give an entertainment for tho special men now in barracko, on an ovoniua to W